Thread by @bsarwary

#AFG Am hearing the new Taliban spy chief has ordered Telecoms to stop internet services in the following areas of Kabul. Khawaja Bughra, Taymani, Khairkhana, Dashte Barche and Qasaba. Seem internet will be switched off in these areas until tomorrow 2PM.

Taliban have told telecoms the request for turning off internet in these areas are because of “security concerns” but it could be because the Taliban don’t want any coverage of protests in these areas.

These areas are predominantly hazaras and Tajiks , people of shamali, especially in Khairkhana and Dashti Barche.

This is D first time telecoms V been asked to turn off internet in KBL. Before the fall of KBL,TB forced telecoms 2turn off their networks in provinces on regular basis. Any telecoms who refused to do so would be threatened with destruction of their towers&killing of their staff.

Last year, more than 308 telecom towers were destroyed by Taliban and during the fightings with govt forces, costing companies more than 15 million dollars.

The Afghan telecom industry is the largest direct foreign investment in Afghanistan, having invested more than 3 billion dollars since 2001.

There are four privately owned international telecom companies and one government owned company.

Telecom industry, after agriculture, is the largest revenue generating industry for Afghanistan. The industry has seen a steep decline since this 2014.

The decline of telecom industry was caused by rising insecurity and predatory taxation and mismanagement of regulatory environment by former President Ghani & his cronies.

“The telecom industry was run effectively by the regulatory body called ATRA. ARG got whatever money they could from the telecom under the guise of taxes and fees.”
According to multiple sources in the telecome sector.

“Ghani and his cronies, especially illegally transferred money from Telecom Development Fund (TDF) to “special accounts” at MOf.” A source in the telecome sector tells me.

“The TDF fund was estimated to be around $200 million which ATRA transferred its money illegally to other “govt accounts” but no record of it has ever been made public.” A source in the telecome sector with extensive knowledge of the matter tells me.

The TDF fund was set up by private telecoms to expand universal coverage in less populated areas. tolonews.com/business/atra-…

“Ghani&his cronies also stripped off Ministry of Communications of all its authority&gave it to ATRA after the ministry was given to Dr Abdullah. ATRA took money out of TDF and raising fees&taxes on telecoms while the industry was declining.” A source in telecom sector tells me.

“They raised taxation rate from around 19.1% in 2014 to almost 27% by 2021. This is while investors were running away. MTN announced it would leave Afghanistan last year.” A source in telecome sector with extensive knowledge of this matter tells me.

Telecom industry gave rise to banking sector in the early 2000s. But with banking sector already failing in Afghanistan, investors in telecom sector may also be forced to close down.

The falling Afghanis against dollars is also making it impossible for telecom companies to stay operational, forget about profitability.

“Ghani&his cronies looked at the telecom industry as a source of revenue for their pockets, not as an essential industry contributing to the development of connectivity or 🇦🇫.

Afghanistan. They even forcefully took money from telecom companies’ bank accounts if they refused to pay off officials at AOP.” A source in the telecome sector with extensive knowledge of the matter tells me.

“The Taliban also destroyed telecoms towers while also extorting the only successful industry together with warlords, commanders and some members of parliament.” A source in the telecom sector with the extensive knowledge of the matter tells me.

“Ghani&his cronies also looked at telecom industry as a prize to be awarded to trusted friends.For example,the salary of D head of ATRA,was almost $10000 with benefits while an average govt employee makes about $200.” Multiple sources in ministry of tele- communications tells me.

While Ghani and cronies spoke of fighting corruption, but when it came to telecoms at least, they made sure to destroy the ministry of telecoms and appoint the most corrupt people, which was not accountable to the parliament and did not get the approval vote.

The Afghan telecom industry employed around half a million people and contributed around $200m to the govt in taxes and fees. Most employers are young Afghans who see no prospect under the Taliban and were already fleeing the country when Ghani & his cronies were in power.

“Even the 4G spectrum auction which was conducted by Ghani cronies at ATRA in June of this year was aimed at ripping off telecoms.” Sources in the telecom sector and ministry of telecommunications tells me.

“In a meeting with CEOs, Ghani demanded from CEOs of telecoms to participate in the auction and pay $17m each. The telecoms boycotted the auction, leaving only govt owned telecom Salaam to participate. Ghani’s cronies at ATrA conducted the 4G auction, taking $17m from

Salaam’s budget and hailing the auction as the most transparent on facebook.” Multiple sources in the ministry of communications and a telecome sector tells me.

Days later, Salam’s main system collapsed because the govt owned telecom didn’t have money to pay its vendors to maintain its CBS system and the network shutdown across the country.

“Ghani and his cronies called on Chinese company ZTE and Chinese ambassador, pleading with them to fix the system. It was a huge embarrassment.” Sources in the telecommunications ministry and telecome sector tells me.

“Having access to clean and enough frequency was essential for improvement of internet and network quality. Providing telecoms with access to clean and enough frequency is the responsibility of ATtRA. Yet the head of ATrA was more interested in getting more money out of telecoms

at the behest of Office of the President than providing access to to clean frequency to improve internet speed, which all Afghans complained about.” Multiple sources in the ministry of telecommunications and telecom sector tells me.

And all appointments at ATRA was done by the office of the president. The appointments was not based on merit but who was trusted by AOP.